Artificial bait



Dec. 15, 1931. 5V Fl DAVENPQRT 1,836,651

ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed July 5, 1928 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE m F. DAVEPOBT, I' AUBURN, ASSIGNOR TO THEGBEEK UEUB BAIIv O.,

' 0F Gm, INDIANA applicati@ ma my s, im. sei-m mi. 290,114.

This invention relates to artificial baits or lures and especially to that type of bait or lure generally known as plug baits.

The primary object of the invention rea sides inthe provision of a simple and eilicient plug lure that can be manufactured at arelatively low cost, and which will closely simulate the appearance and action of a live body, such as a mouse, when in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will'be apparent from the followin description when taken in connection wit the accompanying drawings; in which Fi re 1 is a side elevation ofthe lure, part beingbroken away. 1

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

' Figure 3 isa front elevation of the lure;`

and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, thenumeral 1 indicates the bod portion of the lure which is formed o some buoyant material such as wood or the like, and is provided with a suitable finish 2, preferably mouse colored paint or enamel. This body portion is preferably shaped in representation fof the body of a mouse an 1s rounded at its rear end and downwardly inclined at its forward end, as indicated by the numerals 3 and 4 respectively. upwardly inclined portion 4 is also provided at the forward end of the bottom of the lure. v The under sideof the body portion of the lure is provided with recesses 5 and 6 adjacent the forward end-and at the rearward end, and 'in which are mounted metal ferrules or linings 7. Mounted in these ferrules or cupshaped members by means of the wood screws pivoted by reason of their eyes 11 being associated with the e es 12 on the wood screws. Also extending rom thek under side of the bait body is a line securing means 13 whichcomprises a wood screw threaded into the forward portion of the bait body;.the essential feature being that the attaching means be arranged at the lower portion of the lure body.

50 Infurther simulationof the appearance of .adjacent the forward en thereof, and is in'- 8 are the gang hooks 10; these hooks beinga mouse, the upper forward portion of the body 1 is provided with beads or the like 14, in representation of the eyes of a mouse, and likewise, a flexible member 14 formed either of woven, twisted, o r braided fabric, similar in appearance to the tail of a mouse,.is attached to the rear end of the body portion. In simulation of the ears of a mouse, fiat strips of Celluloid or the like as indicated by the numeral 15 are attached to the upper portion of the body 1 adjacent the forward end thereof, and it should be particularly noted that these members 15 are inclined forwardly and upwardly so as to serve as planes to partl elevate the lure out of the water as it is being drawn forwardly when in use. Likewise, a member 16 of celluloid or the like is secured to the under ortion of the lure clined downwardly and rearwardly as indicated in Fi re 1. This plane 16 is the representation o the front legs of a mouse and also serves as a plane in its reaction on the water as the lure is being drawn forwardly and tends to lift the lure more or less out of the water.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 4 a bifurcated plate 17 is shown in representation of the front legs of a mouse, rather than the continuous plate 16 of Figure 3.

In orderthat the lure may assume a substantiall7 horizontal position in the water and so as to enitely x the buoyancy of the lure that the body portion thereof will remain about half su merged when at rest, .a weight 18 is mounted in the under side thereof adjacent the rear end as indicated in Figure 1.

In the operation of the' device the lure will float in a practically horizontal positon about one-half submerged in the body of water. When drawn through ,the water the downwardly tapering nose 4 will tend to force the lure under the surface of the water; this tendency being more pronounced as the speed of travel of the lure 1s increased. This tendency of the lure to submerge is counteracted by three separate elements, namely, the fact that the line is attached to member 13 which is positioned at the under surface of the bodyportion of the lure; by the planing action 166' of the par'ts 16 lor 17 and by the planing action of the forwardly and upwardly inclined-ears 15, the surface of these latter elements tending to act in connection with the elements 16 or 17 when the lure attains a certilin position where the water strikes against t em.

The drawing of the lure slowly through the waterwill closely simulate the appearance of a mouse; the surface of the water being slightly disturbed and a wake appearing behind similar to that produced by a mouse. The water flowing past the members A16 or 17 will bedetlected'and disturbed so that the members 16 or 17 and the forward hook 10 become in appearance a pair of rapidly moving legs; the rear hook performin a like function to simulate the hind legs, w ile the tail accentuates the naturalness of the entire device.

On increasing the speed the ears catch the water flowing against them and a vacuum forms behind them, producin an ap arance of two spurting jets along t e bac accom' panied by a sound' similar to a small animal struggling in the water. By elevating the rod t1p and retrieving the lure in a series of short jerks, an efect is obtained as of a mouse partly rising out of the water and falling back as if trying to esca something from below. When the lure is a lowed to rest.

quietly and then given a shar Jerk, it creates an effect in the water as o a mouse convulsively strugglin and this eEect is accompanied by a sound indicative' of the action.

A All ofthe e'ects and \actions above noted are enhanced by the shape of the body portion of the lure, namely its practically dat und'er surface, its dou le tapering front 4--4, its comparatively large rear end which is rounded and tends to overbalance the fiat bottom and produce a rolling motion. Moreover, the location and manner of attaching `of the invention as disclose the hooks 10 is such that they not only are best presented to the fish, but the also cannot come into contact with each otli'er and become interlocked so as tofdestroy their eficiency.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with t e accompanying drawin it will be apparent to those skilled in t e art that I have devised an exceedingly simple and inexpensive construction of lure of the type, which is highly eiiicient in action plls an closely simulates the apperance and ac tion of a live body, such as a mouse, when in use.

' In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I now believe to be the preferred form of the invention, but it will be readily understood that various minor chan es and modifications may be made in the etails of the construction of the lure without in any way d'epartn from the s irit herein, an all such chan or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An artificial bait including a body ortion of buoyant material provided' wit a rounded rear end .a substantially dat bottom, a downwarcil tom of said body rtion symmetrically arranged so as to e evate the latter as it is d'rawn through the water, and line securing means attached to ythe body portion below the median line thereof.

2. An artificial bait including a body rtion of buoyant material shaped to simu ate the appearance of amouse, upwardly and forwardly inclined members secured to said `body portion in simulation of ears, a downwardly and' rearwardly inclined member secured to said body portion in simulation of legs, and line securing means attached to the body portion.

' SAM F. DAVENPORT.

y .inclined forward end, inclined members secured to the top and botf 

